Hiroaki Uchikura
Hiroaki Uchikura | |
|---|---|
Hiroaki Uchikura in 2026 | |
| Native name | 内倉 浩昭 |
| Born | January 11, 1965 |
| Allegiance | Japan |
| Branch | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Service years | 1987 - Present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Chief of the Air Staff, JASDF Air Defense Command Director of the Defense Department, Air Defense Command Headquarters 5th Air Wing |
| Awards | Legionnaire Degree, Legion of Merit Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr Italian Gold Cross of Aeronautic Merit |
| Alma mater | National Defense Academy of Japan |
Hiroaki Uchikura (内倉 浩昭, Uchikura Hiroaki; born January 11, 1965) is a Japanese military general who serves as the incumbent Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. General Uchikura previously served as the Chief of the Air Staff of the JASDF, commander of the Air Defense Command, and as wing commander of the 5th Air Wing.
Born and raised from Tarumizu, Kagoshima, Uchikura served into various positions in the Air Self-Defense Force and later served as a fighter pilot flying the Mitsubishi F-15J. Uchikura later served into various administrative and staff positions within the Air Self Defense Force Staff Office and the Ministry of Defense, both being located in Ichigaya, Shinjuku, before being named in major positions such as being the commander of the Air Defense Command and later as the Chief of the Air Staff in March 2023.